Abstract
RECENTLY, there have been numerous studies of tobacco smoking in relation to diseases of the respiratory tract, in particular carcinoma of the lung,1 2 3 carcinoma of the larynx,4 emphysema,5 tuberculosis6 and chronic bronchitis.7 8 Though previous studies1 2 3 may suggest that a causal relation exists between smoking and carcinoma of the lung, and that smoking and tuberculosis6 and bronchitis7 , 8 are associated, the influence of smoking on other respiratory diseases, especially common infectious illnesses, is obscure. It is reported that the common cold9 and chronic cough9 , 10 occur more frequently in smokers than in nonsmokers. It is also popularly held, though not proved, that giving . . .